MAKE A WISH: Young cancer survivor enjoys trip to LA with her family

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July 30, 2008

By Bill Wolcott<br><a href="mailto:wolcottb@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Bill</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Wed Jul 30, 2008, 02:27 AM EDT

The Doel Family of Lockport met the Simpsons last week and guess what? Bart Simpson wrote all over Maddison Doel’s face.

That was one of the highlights of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s gift to the 7-year-old survivor of bone cancer.

Julie and Rob Doel, brother Chad Damiani, 17, and Maddison enjoyed the five-day excursion to Los Angeles. It started and ended with limo rides Monday and Saturday.

“Make-A-Wish provided for every detail for us,” said Julie Doel. “They had every base covered.”

The vacation was a first for Maddison, who was diagnosed with cancer when she was 6. She also had her first ride in an airplane, her first stay in a hotel and her first swim in an ocean.

The main event was a visit to Nickelodeon studios, where Maddison and a boy from Florida, Casey, toured the dressing room and saw the dress rehearsal for “iCarly.” The family was treated to all kinds of foods and candy in the green room.

Maddison and Casey met Miranda Cosgrove, the star of the Nickelodeon favorite, who snuck up on the Lockport family while they were listening to the tour guide.

They exchanged gifts, and Maddison got a basket of toys which included a camera CDs and DVDs. Pictures were taken of Maddison on the set, and the Lockport miss signed an autograph book for Miranda. They were on the set for almost three hours.

“Miranda was really good,” Maddison said. “She was nice.”

The Doels had a day for sightseeing on Tuesday. On Thursday, they went to Universal Studios, where Maddison went on the new Simpson’s ride twice.

On Friday, they went to Venice Beach, the area’s most popular beach, which is lined with shops and men with muscles. Maddison braved the Pacific, which was chilly and had high waves.

“She went right in the ocean,” her mom said. Because water therapy is part of Maddison’s treatment, she enjoyed swimming in the ocean and the Sportsman’s Lodge pool.

On Saturday, there was time to visit Hollywood Boulevard and see the stars in the sidewalk at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The family flew home on Saturday and came home in an excursion limo.

“Maddison loved it,” her mother said.

Maddison, who had a femur replaced in her leg and uses crutches, is scheduled to go back for tests at Roswell Park Cancer Institute on Thursday. Her cancer is in remission.

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Communities

Newfane's Apple Blossom Fest has something for everyone
An apple a day may keep the doctor away and the apple blossoms of Niagara County are cause for celebration. Sunday’s Apple Blossom Festival will lure hundreds of visitors to step back in time to the good old days.

The Newfane Historical Society’s annual event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the museum grounds at the corner of West Creek and Ide roads. Admission and parking are free, and families can while away a sunny afternoon perusing everything from antique tractors to a Civil War encampment.

May 17, 2012 1 Photo
NFTA targets Lockport bus routes for closure
Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority’s proposed service reductions would eliminate all bus service from, to and within greater Lockport.

December 20, 2011
Library adds online selections
Library card holders can check out and download e-books anytime, anywhere by visiting lockportlibrary.org. Patrons can download to a personal computer, Mac and many mobile devices, according to librarian Claire McDonough.

December 20, 2011 4 Photos
Mayor Maedl
Julia A. Maedl is stepping away from politics after 19 years of service to the Village of Middleport in 2001.
Maedl, who was a village trustee for nine years and village mayor for 10 years, will not seek re-election. She says she will remain very active, however.
Since the death of her husband, Robert Maedl in 2008, the Middleport mayor has been running Maedl Woodcrafts. She is on the tourist committee, chair of business association and trustee of Middleport United Methodist Church. She sings in the choir and is in charge of Harvest dinner and chicken barbecue. She manages 28 apartments.

February 11, 2011 1 Photo
Memorial tree program off to a good start
The town’s new memorial tree program has been growing quickly.
Councilwoman Cheryl A. Antkowiak said the program is being done with Stedman’s Nursery of Newfane. Residents who wish to have a tree planted will receive an information packet from Stedman’s as well as a map of Day Road Park showing where each of the 85 trees are located. Stedman’s sells the trees along with a plaque if the resident wants one to be put up.

February 3, 2011
New recycling bins available soon
Town residents could have some new bins to go along with its new recycling incentive program.
At Monday’s work session meeting, Town Board members approved the purchase of new recycling bins. The town placed an order of 1,000 of the 18 gallon bins for $8,845 and another order of 200 of the 32 gallon bins for $3,110. The large bins are 31 and a half inches in height and 22 inches in diameter.
Both sets of bins will be blue in color and the 32 gallon bins will come with lids.
The 18 and 32 gallon bins were produced by Otto Environmental Services in Charlotte, N.C., a company Supervisor Marc R. Smith said the town has used before for bins. The company still has a rubber stamp with the town logo on it.

February 1, 2011
Library names new director
Beverly Federspiel, Director of the City of Tonawanda Public Library, has been appointed as the new Director of the Lockport Public Library.
Federspiel, 49, will succeed Marie Binderman, who is retiring, on Feb. 28.
“I’m excited,” said Federspiel, who has been at the Tonawanda Library three years after serving at the Buffalo and Erie County Central Library for 18 years. “I’ve always loved the Lockport building and the community is very supportive. There are lots of opportunities out there.”

February 1, 2011
Winterfest, take two
Winterfest was a big success last year and Winterfest 2011 may even be bigger Saturday at Royalton-Hartland Elementary School and the Hartland Bible Church.
“Last year was the first year and well over 650 people attended, that’s a huge response for an inaugural event,” said Helen Feron, the chairman of the steering committee. “This year we expect more.”
Entertainment and activities are scheduled from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. including a basket auction at the Hartland Bible Church at 3 p.m., where Magician Robert Geckler will also perform at 2:15 p.m.
The event is geared towards school aged children and free to children 10-and-under. Admissiong is $3 for adults and includes Chinese auction tickets.

February 1, 2011
High school project coming along
Construction on Lockport High School is continuing throughout the winter months. Construction crews work on a scaffold on the west side of the building, which is the Locust Street side. The school is undergoing a $23.5 million capital improvement project that includes adding a fitness center, a six classroom addition and completely renovate the auditorium into a brand new fine arts center. The auditorium will also have stage work completed, new music rooms, a renovated foyer and a new entrance on the Locust Street side. There will be improvements made to ventilators and mechanical systems, an art gallery, new windows, as well as new padding and bleachers in the gymnasium. The technology wing also will be updated, and the library renovated to make room for a computer lab. Also, bathrooms will be added nearby. The entire project is expected to be completed in September.

January 28, 2011 2 Photos
Going green
With a symbolic “shot heard ‘round the community,” Lockport’s historic Kenan Center Arena unveiled its new artificial turf indoor soccer field and renovated “annex.”
About a dozen local dignitaries were on hand Thursday night at special dedication ceremony, attended by about 200 parents and soccer players, who wasted little time putting two new soccer fields to work.
The new turf installation was part of a larger arena capital project, which included the renovation of the arena’s adjacent annex room, which was gutted last year to create almost 6,000 square feet of additional space. Parts of the old artificial turf field were used to cover the new, smaller soccer field in the annex.
Lockport Mayor Michael Tucker lauded the Kenan’s effort and others who joined in to make the $106,000 capital improvement project — more than 10 years in the making — a reality. Funders include the Kenan soccer players, who raised about $60,000 selling candy, the Grigg-Lewis Foundation, the Kenan Arts Council, Rotary Club of Lockport and the Lockport Lions Club.

January 28, 2011 4 Photos
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